Tag 37: Threesome Kiss

4.8.2016

Our first full day in Bali is overshadowed by a very positive surprise. The evening before, around 8:00 PM, just as we were about to go to sleep, the phone rings. It turns out that my uncle Martin has sent me a WhatsApp message asking if we are in the area around Bangkok. I say no and mention Bali, but hilariously he responds that they will be in Bali tomorrow. So it turns out that I make a spontaneous date with my uncle and his partner in Bali. We are here for three days, while they are only staying for one night - if it works out, it works out.

Since we agree to meet slightly south of our location in Seminyak, we look for a vehicle. The cheapest option in Bali is to rent a scooter - about €5/day. Of course, real freeloaders like us, yes, including me now too, seize such an opportunity. The first attempts at riding are not bad either, the left-hand traffic on the hectic, overcrowded Balinese streets hardly noticeable, and I try to avoid potholes. Gudi shows me a huge vote of confidence as a passenger and in general by getting on such a death tricycle (which actually only has 2 wheels) while clinging onto my belly. Unfortunately, this confidence is limited to her verbal actions, as her senses and reactions are not at all in agreement with the decision to ride along - while she clings onto my belly, with her fingernails digging into my flesh. The combination of fingernails in my stomach, badly calculated turns, and a bit of overestimation on my part leads, in a nutshell, to a crash - not just between the two of us, but also involving the asphalt. Nothing happens, but we decide to give the scooter a day off after only a few minutes.

In the heat without a breeze and instead with endless steps, we make our way to the supermarket. This should guarantee our breakfast today - Bali is so expensive that we want to avoid eating out as much as possible. To be honest, I am curious to see how long the overcrowded and overpriced beach regions will actually continue to attract tourists - in my eyes, it seems like a bubble that is about to burst.

In the supermarket, we find ourselves in a Western world for the first time in weeks: familiar products as far as the eye can see, everything you need and more - only the prices are simply insane, it is much cheaper to stay at home. So we only buy a little fresh fruit and decide to leave kilograms behind in Bali instead of money.

After a meager breakfast, I receive the next shock - the beach where we used to jog 7 years ago is now so overcrowded that it is almost impossible to walk without being pushed into the water by all the sun loungers and people. It is just as difficult to find a spot for towels as it is to find a surfboard that you can rent at a reasonable price. I have heard a lot about the development here and knew that the coming days would be more touristy, but I was not prepared for this.

Nevertheless, I pay for a surfboard because I think that after the defeat in Nias, I should at least have a go at it here, among less skilled surfers. And indeed, suddenly things are working! Unfortunately, we don't have a camera with us, but suddenly knee-high waves are no problem, turns feel powerful, and maneuvering on the - much shorter board - is so much cooler. After two hours, I stop and realize that I have no idea where I am. So I search the endlessly long stretch of shoreline for a half eternity without seeing a trace of Gudi. Eventually, it turns out that I have been going in the wrong direction from the beginning - a testament to my sense of direction - and the fact that I have made it this far is probably mainly thanks to Gudi.

Back at the hotel, we enjoy the air conditioning, the sandy bed that becomes even sandier through another climb in beach attire, and wonder (especially me) why we got sunburned.

Since this needs to be taken care of, we spend too little time outside and realize that we won't be able to walk the two-hour journey to our date in 45 minutes. So we only walk a bit - but with sweat on our faces - before deciding that we'll take a taxi!

Arriving at the palace-like hotel, unfortunately, nobody knows who Uncle Martin is. Nobody can make anything of his last name either, and we don't know the last name of his partner - it's definitely not Kufstein - but I still gave it a try (she is from Kufstein, it could be possible). So all we can do is wait. After a while, an airport taxi arrives and we find out that the family's flight was delayed.

This doesn't dampen our spirits, and after a short exchange of stories, we head to the beach for dinner. It quickly turns out that as world travelers, we have a lot of information and stories to exchange - which is very educational and exciting.

It also turns out that we can enjoy much more noble and sophisticated cuisine than we expected and are used to, thanks to our relatives picking up the tab. On the beach, by candlelight and with a white tablecloth, we enjoy fresh fish and a distant fireworks display, and end the evening in a cheerful mood, exchanging stories.

Gudi's Glorious Laws

Very commendable: Always choose the cheapest item on the menu, even if you don't have to pay for your own food!

Today, three guests at the table have fresh fish - one person is eating rice.